For someone who played an international for the first time in two years in January 2019, Mohammad Rizwan is spoken of remarkably frequently. Most often, he is used as a stick to threaten current first-choice Pakistan wicketkeeper and captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, but the 26-year-old from Peshawar has qualities of his own that suggest he might have been unfortunate not to play for Pakistan more often.

A limited batsman but a technically sound keeper, Rizwan made his international debut shortly after the 2015 World Cup when the slot behind the stumps was still up for grabs. He made a bright start against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, averaging nearly 60 with the bat in his first eight innings, but against more challenging opposition, his deficiencies were quickly exposed. A lengthy lean patch followed, and once he lost his place to Sarfaraz for the World T20 in 2016, there was little doubt who Pakistan's No. 1 wicketkeeper was. After the debacle at the World T20, Sarfaraz was appointed captain of the limited-overs sides, and consequently Rizwan's game time diminished further, coming to a complete halt until Sarfaaraz sat out the last five games on the tour to South Africa earlier this year serving a ban.

On the domestic circuit, Rizwan has been a prolific run-accumulator, averaging a shade under 50 in List A cricket and 41 at first-class level. He doesn't, however, seem to have the shots necessary to make him a valuable asset in T20Is, but with that being Sarfaraz's strongest suit, both as a batsman and captain, it would have been hard to dislodge him in the format at any rate.

Having made his debut over a decade ago on Pakistan's domestic circuit, Rizwan has been an ever-present participant in the Quaid-e-Azam trophy, plying his trade with the hugely successful SNGPL side, helping his side to three titles in the last four years. For that, the reward of a solitary Test cap in 2016 feels somewhat inadequate.

He currently plays for the Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League, and having firmly cemented himself as Pakistan's back-up wicketkeeper, may yet get a chance to impress at the World Cup in England later in 2019.